Terminal unit for IC card using plural protocols and control method therefor

1. A data processing apparatus for IC media, the apparatus being constructed and arranged to communicate with the IC medium in a synchronous communication protocol and an asynchronous communication protocol, comprising: first supplying means for supplying a first clock signal to an IC medium of the IC media for establishing communication with the IC medium using the synchronous communication protocol; means for receiving data outputted from the IC medium in synchronism with the first clock signal supplied by the first supplying means; means for determining whether the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol or the asynchronous communication protocol, based on whether or not the received data has a predetermined value; means for continuing a subsequent communication with the IC medium in the synchronous communication protocol when the determining means has determined that the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol; and second supply means for supplying a second clock signal, having a higher frequency than the first clock signal, to the IC medium for establishing communication with the IC medium using the asynchronous communication protocol when the determining means has determined that the IC medium uses the asynchronous communication protocol.

2. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means comprises: means for reading the data from the IC medium to display contents of the read data.

3. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first supply means comprises: means for supplying, to the IC medium, a reset signal and a power source voltage, the power source voltage being for operating the IC medium.

4. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means comprises: means for reading the data transmitted from the IC medium in response to a rising of the first clock signal or a predetermined timing and determining effective data by majority data; and means for determining that the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol or the asynchronous communication protocol in accordance with a value of the effective data.

5. A data processing forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means comprises: means for reading the data transmitted from the IC medium in response to a rising of the first clock signal or a predetermined timing by performing a plurality of reading operations an odd-number of times and determining effective data by majority data; and means for determining that the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol or the asynchronous communication protocol in accordance with a value of the effective data.

6. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means comprises: means for reading the data transmitted from the held IC medium in response to a rising of the first clock signal or a predetermined timing by performing a plurality of reading operations an odd-number of times and determining effective data by majority data; and means for repeating an operation of the determining means a plurality of times to determine whether the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol or the asynchronous communication protocol in accordance with a plurality of the determined effective data items.

7. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means comprises: means for reading the data transmitted from the IC medium in response to a rising of the first clock signal or a predetermined timing and determining effective data by majority data; and means for determining that the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol when a plurality of effective data items are not common data and for determining that the IC medium uses the asynchronous communication protocol when the plurality of effective data items are common data.

8. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means comprises: means for reading the data transmitted from the IC medium in response to a rising of the first clock signal or a predetermined timing and determining effective data by majority data; and means for determining that the IC medium uses the asynchronous communication protocol when all of a plurality of effective data items have a value of 1 and for determining that the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol when all of the plurality of effective data items have a value not equal to 1.

9. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining means comprises: means for reading the data transmitted from the IC medium in response to a rising of the first clock signal or a predetermined timing and determining effective data by a majority data; and means for determining that the IC medium uses the asynchronous communication protocol when all of a plurality of effective data items are not signals which are transmitted from the IC medium using the synchronous communication protocol and for determining that IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol when all of the plurality of effective data items are signals which are transmitted from the IC medium using the synchronous communication protocol.

10. A method of controlling a data processing apparatus for IC media, the apparatus being constructed and arranged to communicate with an IC medium of the IC media in a synchronous communication protocol and an asynchronous communication protocol, the method comprising: supplying a first clock signal to the IC medium for establishing communication with the IC medium using the synchronous communication protocol; receiving data outputted from the IC medium in synchronism with the first clock signal supplied by the step of supplying the first clock signal; determining whether the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol or the asynchronous communication protocol, based on whether or not the received data has a predetermined value; continuing a subsequent communication with the IC medium using the synchronous communication protocol when the determining step has determined that the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol; and supplying a second clock signal, having a higher frequency than the first clock signal to the IC medium for establishing communication with the IC medium using the asynchronous communication protocol when the determining step has determined that the IC medium uses the asynchronous communication protocol.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the determination step comprises: reading the data from the IC medium to display contents of the read data.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of supplying the first clock signal comprises: supplying, to the IC medium, a reset signal and a power source voltage, the power source voltage being for operating the IC medium.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the determination step comprises: reading the data transmitted from the IC medium in response to a rising of the first clock signal or a predetermined timing and determining effective data by majority data; and determining that the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol or the asynchronous communication protocol in accordance with a value of the effective data.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein the determination step comprises: reading the data transmitted from the IC medium in response to a rising of the first clock signal or a predetermined timing by performing a plurality of reading operations an odd-number of times and determining effective data by majority data; and determining that the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol or the asynchronous communication protocol in accordance with a value of the effective data.

15. A method according to claim 10, wherein the determination step comprises: reading the data transmitted from the IC medium in response to a rising of the first clock signal or a predetermined timing by performing a plurality of reading operations an odd-number of times and determining effective data by majority data; and repeating an operation of the determining means a plurality of times to determine whether the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol or the asynchronous communication protocol in accordance with a plurality of the determined effective data items.

16. A method according to claim 10, wherein the determination step comprises: reading the data transmitted from the IC medium in response to a rising of the first clock signal or a predetermined timing by performing a plurality reading operations to determine a plurality of effective data by majority data; and determining that the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol when the plurality of effective data are not common data and determining that the IC medium uses the asynchronous communication protocol when the plurality of effective data are common data.

17. A method according to claim 10, wherein the determination step comprises: reading the data transmitted from the IC medium in response to a rising of the first clock signal or a predetermined timing and determining a plurality of effective data; and determining that the IC medium uses the asynchronous communication protocol when all of the plurality of effective data have a value of 1 and determining that the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol when all of the plurality of effective data items have a value not equal to 1.

18. A method according to claim 10, wherein the determination step comprises: reading the data transmitted from the IC medium in response to a rising of the first clock signal or a predetermined timing and determining a plurality of effective data by a majority data; and determining that the IC medium uses the asynchronous communication protocol when all of the plurality or effective data are not signals which are transmitted from the IC medium using the synchronous communication protocol and determining that the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol when all of the plurality of effective data are signals which are transmitted from IC medium using the synchronous communication protocol.

19. A data processing apparatus for IC media, the apparatus being constructed and arranged to communicate with the IC media in a synchronous communication protocol and an asynchronous communication protocol, comprising: a clock circuit arranged to transmit a clock signal at a predetermined frequency; a switching circuit arranged to receive the clock signal and shift a frequency of the clock signal from the predetermined frequency to one of a first frequency and a second frequency, the clock signal having the first frequency being supplied to the IC medium of the IC media for establishing communication with the IC medium using the synchronous communication protocol, and the clock signal having the second frequency being supplied to the IC medium for establishing communication with the IC medium using the asynchronous communication protocol; means for receiving data outputted from the IC medium in synchronism with the first clock signal supplied by the first supplying means; and means for determining whether the IC medium uses the synchronous communication protocol or the asynchronous communication protocol, based on whether or not the received data has a predetermined value, wherein the second frequency is a higher frequency than the first frequency.